46.5 seconds.
Frida Karlsson dominated greatly in the World Championship premiere in Ruka, Finland, and was far ahead of her closest pursuer Therese Johaug. This after a summer that has been very different for Karlsson. Foot problems forced her to alternative training, whereupon Karlsson went to the Spanish island of Tenerife to cycle and skate.
Something that seems to have been a success.
I've felt really good this week, Karlsson notes.
She develops:
You usually say that the tenth or eleventh day after you've come home from altitude is the best. And that's kind of now. That I have a little altitude boost. I've found my skiing and have a strong body this year, she says.
"Looked like a moon landscape"
After her time on sunny Tenerife, Karlsson returned to Sweden to compete in Bruksvallarna last weekend. She thinks that the alternative training has given her a boost.
When something is taken away from you, that you can't do what you do in your daily life, then it's quite nice to come to a place that doesn't look like home at all, says Karlsson.
She continues:
It felt like I was on another planet. It looked like a moon landscape, like Star Wars. It was nice for me to go into my own bubble. To focus on good training. Even though it was cycling and skating, it was still a load on my heart. I got four really good weeks there.
Praises Dyvik
Karlsson also highlights the former national team skier Anna Dyvik as an important factor. During parts of Karlsson's time on Tenerife, she was there and they trained together.
We're quite similar in that we're both quite emotionally driven. We had so much fun together and it gives me a lot of energy. She was important there, says Karlsson.
Next for Karlsson is Saturday's sprint. She will not, however, be competing in the 20 km freestyle on Sunday.
